Whether it’s small berries from a far away and exotic location like Peru or the Amazon, or in powder form, they are the magical ingredients that promise us everything, from weight loss to increased libido, and even eternal youth.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be the first to admit that I go ga-ga over a goji, but what I’ve come to realise since growing my own food and cooking with it, is that no one ingredient is better than another. In fact it’s not about the ingredient at all, rather it’s the fact that the quality of any food comes down to how it has been grown, processed and prepared.

I know that a good old carrot or apple seem rather boring (and cheap!) next to the much sexier acai, but when it’s just been picked and grown organically or bio-dynamically, without the use of any chemicals or pesticides, I’d argue that it is far richer in nutrients than anything that’s flown thousands of miles to sit on a shelf for months.

As soon as something is harvested its nutritional content deteriorates, sometimes by as much half in about a week. A just-picked apple is so fresh that it’s practically still alive. This is why I believe local produce is so important. There is definitely great value in organic farming, from avoiding contaminants in our bodies to those of the environment.

Magdalena RozeThere are so many trends, diets and lifestyles going around that it can be very confusing to know what to eat, not to mention the expense of it all. Take the power back into your own hands with the simple knowledge that real food, as close to its natural source as possible, is good for you. It’s about getting back to basics – whole foods – and there’s no better place to get them than your own garden or farmer’s market. It might not always be ‘certified organic’, after all my garden isn’t! Just ask the farmer how it has been grown and you’ll often find it’s completely spray-free and was still in the ground that morning. I’ve discovered that some of my growers talk to their plants and even bury crystals charged with positive energy in the orchard. Hey, whatever it takes, right? Something’s working though because the fruits taste absolutely amazing and I’ve never felt better.

Now that’s what I call super.